By Lebone Rodah Mosima
The former Ntabankulu Senior Primary School deputy principal who murdered three female teachers last week before killing himself, had previously intimidated staff and pupils by conducting “random shootouts” outside the school premises, according to Eastern Cape department of education spokesperson, Velani Mbiza-Gola.
The perpetrator was dismissed following a disciplinary process linked to allegations of sexual misconduct involving learners, but returned to the school, “intent” on killing the women, and “destroying their lives”, Mbiza-Gola told Inside Education.
“This guy goes beyond a court interdict that he had in his possession, or a protection order as well, that the school had gone back to the police to source out. He would come next to the school premises, he would intimidate some of the teachers and the learners,” said Mbiza-Gola.
He said that the former deputy principal would conduct “random shootouts” outside the school premises to intimidate those who testified against him in the disciplinary process.
“He still disregarded the interdict, and went ahead and killed the people. This is where the MEC feels this is a total disregard of the law — it’s something that has seriously gone wrong with our society,” he said.
The province’s education MEC, Fundile Gade, and officials, visited the school on Monday to offer condolences to teaching staff and learners.
Mbiza-Gola said that during the visit, Gade stressed the need to rebuild society’s moral value system.
The MEC also met privately with teachers to assure them about safety at the school premises.
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Mbiza-Gola said psychosocial support had been sent to the school.
Gade also visited the families of two of the deceased teachers on Monday, while arrangements were underway to reach a third family based in another town in the province. That visit is expected to take place on Thursday.
Two of the deceased teachers had children of school going age, said Mbiza-Gola.
While no new security measures were announced, Gade said that violence “driven by disregard for life” would not be prevented by physical barriers alone.
“Even if you were to build high walls, if people want to kill you, if they have a total disregard for your life, disregard of the law and justice, [they will find a way],” said Gade.
The department is assisting the families of the victims with funeral arrangement, said Mbiza-Gola.
One burial is expected to take place next week, while post-mortem processes are still underway for the remaining victims.
INSIDE EDUCATION
